Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an innovative technique for noninvasive cross-sectional tissue imaging. 1–3 With its high resolution (10–20 μm), OCT provides microscopic morphological information with respect to the gastrointestinal wall. 4 By measuring singly backscattered light as a function of depth, OCT provides subsurface imaging with high spatial resolution in 3 dimensions. OCT images are essentially comparable to microscopic sections and have been called optical 5–9 OCT visualizes both mucosal structures and wall components, in vivo and in near real-time, in most segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, OCT is in theory ideally suited to the detection of dysplastic lesions including tiny, early stage malignant tumors. Potentially, OCT has an important role in the management of patients with gastrointestinal disorders characterized by dysplasia, particularly those in which there is a continuum from dysplasia to cancer, and especially when these lesions are small and difficult or impossible to detect with standard endoscopic imaging techniques. As shown in preliminary studies, OCT could play a significant role in targeting specific sites for mucosal biopsies. In theory, OCT could actually eliminate the need for biopsies in the surveillance of precancerous conditions, such as Barrett's esophagus (BE), or at least reduce the number of biopsies required in standard protocols. The evolving development of OCT has led to many potential uses in gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Published Version
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